Disappearing gun.



G. GERACL.

DISAPPEARING GUN.

APPuc/mou min ocr. a. 1911.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

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G. GERACE.

DISAPPEARING GUN.

APPucATlcm msn 001.8. 1911.

1,276,518. Patented Aug. 2o, 1918.

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G. GERACE.

DISAPPEARING GUN. APPLICATION man ocT. 8. |911.

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DlSAPPEARING GUN.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2Q, 1918.

Application led October 8, 1917. Serial No. 195,367.

Gruns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in disappearing guns.

The primary object of the invention is adisappearing cannon ofdouble arrangement adapted for projecting missiles simultaneously the arrangement being such that a connector for the missiles is carried against the enemy, the device preferably being electrically fired.

A further object of the device is the provision. `of cannons adapted for elevating,

lowering and firing simultaneously by means' of an electric spark generated by the operator, missiles being hurled by the cannons adapted for carrying a connecting member therewith.

In the drawings forming'a part of this application and in which like designating 'characters lrefer to corresponding parts ing ground wheels 11 and a carriage mount 12 connected to the platform 13 of the car by means of pivoted links 14 attached together by pivotal connectors 15. Elevating cords 16 are attached to spools 17 secured beneath the forward part of the mount 12 and` passing over winding drums 18 rea-rwardly positionedv upon the car platform 13 and adapted to be turned by means of a crank not shown, operatively arranged in connection with the shaft 19 of the said drums. mount 12 is in its loweredposition as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the winding up of the cord 16 upon the drums 18 will shift the mount 12 vertically to its ele- It will be evident that when the vatedposition with the links '14 vertically arranged as illustrated by dotted lines inYV Fi 1 of the drawings.

ushioning springs 2O arecarried by the rear. end of the mount 12 adapted for positlonlng against the forward face of a block 21 mounted upon the platform 13, such arrangement taking place when the mount 12 is lowered but the arrangement being such 'that the spring 20 will move over top of the block 21 during the elevating of the said mount. A rope 22 is attached to a spool 23 positioned beneath the mount 12 adjacent the aforementioned spools 17 and having its forward end secured to a drum 24 mounted adjacent the forward endof the platform 13 and having an operating crank 25. A pawl and ratchet mechanism 26 is'provided for the shaft 19 of the elevating drums 18 for maintaining the mount 12 in its adjusted elevated position while the winding up of the rope 22 upon the drum 24 will lower the mount 12 when the mechanism 26 is released.

The block 21 receives the recoil shocks when the device is fired with the mount 20 lowered while the transverse block 27 is arranged adjacent Athe block 21 and rejects at opposite sides of the platform 13 adapted for engagement by the adjacent links 14 when the mount 12 is elevated adapted for taking up the recoil shocks when the gun is fired in its elevated arrangement. A shaft 28 connects the upper ends of the forward links 14 and is arranged with the mount 12 resting thereon while the shaft 28 is adapted to rest upon the posts 29 of the forward drum 24 when the mount is lowered.

Oppositely positioned cannons 30 forwardly proyect from the mount 12 having the bores31 thereof rearwardly extending within 'the mount 12 and having breech blocks 32 in the form of cap or closure faces arranged at the rear ends of the bores. A shaft 33 is arranged journaled in the mount 12 hav-ing arms 34 secured thereto for attaching the breech blocks 32, a crank 35 being arranged at the outer end of the shaft 33 for revolving said shaft and elevating the blocks 32 when it is desired to load the cannons.

Y A magneto 36 is arranged in one rear cornerV of the mount 12 adapted to be manually operated by a crank 37 the same being arranged with one circuit wire 38 mounted upon the metal mount 12 as at 39 while another wire 40 is provided for the magneto attached to an insulated contact plate 41 upon the rear end of the mount 12. Firing pins 42 extend through the mount 12 and areinsulated therefrom by bushings 43, one end of each pin 42 terminating within the bore 31 of one of the cannons 30 at a point centrally within a ring 44 upon the rear wall 45 of the bore. The other ends of the pins 42 are connected by wires 46 with a circuit closer 47 adapted for contacting the plate 41 by means of a turn knob 48 Whilel a spring 49 normally maintains the circuit closure 47 out of contact with the plate 41.

A charge of explosive material such as powder is placedwithin the bores 31 when the blocks 32 are elevated and upon closing the blocks 32, the operating crank 3.5 thereof is engaged by a retaining latch 50 for maintaining the blocks 32 closed when the cannons are fired. Electric current is generated by turning the crank 37 so that byy manipulating the knob 38 the circuit closer 47 will be brought into contact with the plate 41 thereby completing the circuit therebetween and causing sparks to jump between the inner ends of the pins 43 and the adjacent portion or rings 44 within the bores 4l and exploding the charge and firing the cannons simultaneously.

The cannons 30 are preferably formed integral with the mount 12 so that a portion of the bore 31 of each cannon is formedl in the mount 12. The chain 54 may be temporarily attached to the connector 51. The

ring pins 42 and bushings 43 provide a manner of spark plug for lthe cannons 30 and it will be understood that any form of electrical generator may be used in place of the magneto 36.

when the mount is in its lowered position.

2. In combination with a car, a mount, pivotal link connections between the mount andcar, elevating and lowering means for the mount, an anchor block upon the car,

shock absorbing springs carried by the` Vmount Ain engagement with the said'block when the mount is in its .lowered position, cannons formed with the'said mount, firing means for said cannons, and a shock-absorbing member secured to said car for engagement with the links when the mount is in raised position.

.3. In combination with a car, a mount, links arranged in pairs and pivotally secured to the car and mount, a connector pivotally secured toeach pair of links, elevating and lowering means for the mount, an anchor block upon the car, shock-absorbing springs secured to the mount for engagement with the block when the mount is in its lowered position, cannons formed with said mount, firing means for the cannon, a shock-absorbing member secured to the car and anchor block, said member adapted to be 'engaged by the links when the mount is raised, and a supporting means secured to the car for engagement with the forward end of the mount when the latter isin its lowered position.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

GAETANO GERACE. 

